Watermelon Portfolio

Firm flesh varieties possess a unique genetic trait which greatly improves flesh firmness and shelf life while reducing the amount of liquid purge in the cut product. Cut fruit product breaks down at a much slower rate compared to conventional varieties. During long overseas export channel, or event shipping to local markets, varieties stay fresh longer and flesh quality will remain good longer, enhancing supply chain performance and reducing fruit waste.

Seedless watermelon is developed by creating watermelon plants with double the usual chromosome number and crossing them with normal watermelon plants. This creates plants with an odd number of chromosomes, so they can't produce seeds. They also make very little pollen, so conventional watermelons (or pollenizers) need to be planted nearby to help with pollination. While called "seedless," these watermelons have tiny, soft seeds that you can eat.

Watermelons are also categorized according to fruit shape, rind pattern and size.
Jubilee types – names after the popular 'Jubilee' variety are oblong shaped with dark stripes on a light background in the 25-35 lb. range.
Charleston Gray types – watermelons of similar shape and size as Jubilee but with a light green rind., again for a popular cultivar, 'Charleston Gray'.
Crimson Sweet types – round watermelons in the range of 20 to 30 lb. with a striped rind
Allsweet types – small oblong melons (15 to 25 lb) with a dark green rind and light-yellow stripe with dark red flesh are called.
Royal Sweet or Mirage types - watermelons with a blocky shape (between a Jubilee and Crimson Sweet type).
Icebox types - round watermelons of 10 lb or less. They denote their ability to fit into a refrigerator.

Super pollenizers are small, seeded varieties needed to pollenate seedless varieties in the field. They have plants (lacy vines) that are less competitive to the seedless varieties growers plant in the field, but they deliver larger, male blooms that are earlier than current commercial varieties.  

Watermelon seed germinates at soil temperatures of 68 to 95 °F; however, germination below 70 °F is very slow. At a soil temperature of 77 °F, watermelon plants should emerge in about 5 days.

Seed should be planted approximately 1 in. deep. The amount of seed required (usually 1 to 2 lb per acre) depends upon seed size, germination, and plant spacing.
Watermelons traditionally have been spaced 6 to 8 ft between hills on bare ground without irrigation. With irrigation, use a spacing of 5 to 6 ft between hills. With plastic mulch and trickle irrigation, use an in-row spacing of 3 ft and between-row spacing of 6 to 8 ft. Icebox watermelons can be spaced even more closely, with in-row spacing of 2 ft and between-row spacing of 5 ft.

Blossom-end rot (BER) is a physiological or nonparasitic disorder related to calcium deficiency, moisture stress or both.
Hollow heart is a physiological disorder influenced by genetics, environment, and probably a number of nutritional factors. To decrease the incidence of these two problems, only cultivars that have not shown unusually high incidences of HH should be planted. In addition, the crop should be grown under optimal (as close as possible) nutritional and moisture conditions. Hollow harts harms watermelon quality.
Sunscald is damage to the melons caused by intense sunlight. Sunscald can be particularly severe on dark-colored melons. Developing and maintaining adequate canopy cover to afford protection (shade) to the melons may prevent sunscald. Sunscald reduces quality by making melons less attractive and may predispose the melon to rot.
Stem splitting can occur in seedlings grown for transplanting. This problem seems to be associated with high humidity and moisture that can occur under greenhouse conditions. Watering evenly to maintain soil moisture, avoiding wet-dry cycles in the media, and good air circulation may help alleviate these problems
Sandblasting occurs when wind and blowing sand damage seedlings when first planted. This appears as dead or dying tissue, usually on the side of the prevailing winds.

Early Start: Transplants allow for an earlier start in the growing season, leading to earlier harvests and potentially higher market prices.
Uniform Growth: They provide more uniform plant development and spacing, which can improve overall crop management and yield.
Disease Control: Starting with healthy transplants can reduce the risk of soil-borne diseases and pests, as they are often grown in controlled environments.
Resource Efficiency: Transplants can lead to more efficient use of water and nutrients, as they are established plants that can better utilize resources.
Reduced Risk: Using transplants can minimize the risks associated with direct seeding, such as poor germination due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Disease Resistance: Rootstocks can provide resistance to soil-borne diseases and pests, protecting the grafted plant.
Improved Stress Tolerance: They can enhance tolerance to environmental stresses like drought, salinity, and temperature extremes.
Vigorous Growth: Rootstocks often promote stronger and more vigorous plant growth, leading to better yields.
Uniformity: They help ensure uniformity in plant size and fruit production, which is beneficial for commercial growers.
Extended Lifespan: Grafted plants on rootstock can have a longer productive lifespan compared to non-grafted plants.
Adaptability: Rootstocks can allow plants to thrive in soils that might not be suitable for the scion variety alone.